International Enrollment in U.S. Schools Declines
New data suggests that international enrollment in U.S. schools is on the downturn, with universities acknowledging their reliance on these students for additional revenue. A recent report focusing on fall 2025 indicates that first-time foreign student enrollments have decreased by 17%. This information comes from Open Doors, an initiative that receives support from the State Department. The report, which includes responses from 828 universities, reveals that 84% view foreign recruitment as a priority, with 60% citing “financial contribution” as a motivating factor.
Interestingly, while the number of new enrollments has dropped, overall international student enrollments are only down by 1%, and there’s a slight uptick—about 2%—in undergraduate enrollments. Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs, which give international students a chance to stay in the U.S. after graduation, have increased by 14%. However, there’s been a decline of 12% in graduate admissions from international students.
In the survey, nearly 30% of universities reported an increase in new international student enrollment, whereas 14% maintained stable numbers, and 57% experienced a decrease.
Some notable institutions, like Columbia University, have a majority of their student body composed of international students, often appreciated for paying full tuition without financial aid.
In recent years, the Trump administration has aimed to reduce the number of foreign students admitted to prestigious schools like Harvard, linking this to rising anti-Semitism and concerns surrounding foreign funding transparency. Nevertheless, judicial interventions have halted several of these initiatives. Meanwhile, a Chinese Communist Party-backed university in Hong Kong attempted to lure students who were admitted to Harvard.
Recently, President Trump stated a commitment to welcoming 600,000 Chinese students into American educational institutions, emphasizing the value of their “talent.” The report also indicates that about 56% of universities observed stable or increasing admissions from China.
